Waise

German

Etymology

From Middle High German weise, from Old High German weiso; cognate with Dutch wees.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈvaɪ̯zə/ (Germany)
  • IPA(key): /ˈvaɛ̯.sɛ/ (Austria)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Homophones: weise, Weise
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯zə

Noun

Waise f (genitive Waise, plural Waisen)

  1. (strict sense) female orphan
  2. (broad sense) orphan

Usage notes

Today this noun is chiefly feminine, but in older stages of German it was either masculine or feminine.

Declension

Derived terms

Noun

Waise m (genitive Waisen, plural Waisen, feminine Waise f or Waisin, diminutive Waischen)

  1. orphan

Further reading

  • Waise” in Duden online
  • Waise” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache